Seized pounamu welcomed home

Te Runanga o Makaawhio upoko Richard Wallace accepts some of the returned pounamu seized by Customs, from Customs deputy comptroller Robert Lake after a ceremony at Rehua Marae, in Christchurch, yesterday. At left is Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu deputy kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai, Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae chairman Francois Tumahai, and West Coast kaumatua Ben Hutana and Marie Mahuika-Forsyth. A 175kg rock, and a number of smaller stones, were seized when people were caught illegally trying to sell them overseas without an export licence.